I'm 28, started breaking out when I was about 22, and I first tried Smoothbeam several years ago and did 4 treatments. The laser works by shrinking the oil producing glands in your skin, which do recover eventually, but it kept my skin clear for a couple of years. After suffering through some bad heat and humidity when the Texas summer came back around this year, my skin got really oil and started to break out like crazy again. I was using Proactiv to try to deal with acne because I couldn't drop several hundred dollars on Smoothbeam treatments, but Proactiv is expensive too, not to mention a big hassle to go through a couple of times a day and smells funny and bleaches clothing and towels on top of that. My skin also got so oily during the day anyway and I found myself constantly blotting it because it was so shiny, so when I could finally afford to go the Smoothbeam route again, I jumped on it. I had my first treatment of this new round yesterday and my skin already looks and feels better. I'm probably going to have 3 or 4 treatments, one every 3 weeks, and then if my skin has quit its annoying overproduction of oil I will wait and do the other 1 or 2 treatments (I bought a package of 5 because it came at a discount) for maintenance later. Smoothbeam is not a permanent fix for acne, but for the amount of time that it kept my skin clear the first time, it's permanent enough. It's so nice being able to just use gentle cleansers on my face and be able to see clear skin in the mirror. Some people say it hurts, but I didn't use numbing cream and I would describe the sensation as moderately annoying zaps, like getting shocked by static.
Yes, for up to 6 months. It does so by reducing eccrine sweat which promotes bacterial growth (added to by heat and occlusion). It may also reduce odor through suppression of sweat through apocrine glands (attached to hair follicles). This sweat does contain lipids and proteins which themselves may cause odor. Botox doesn't kill any germs...it just reduces the sweat that is their breeding environment.
I've learned many sustainable facts in 37 years of practice: one is not to chase one problem by creating another! Botox ptosis will fade within 2 weeks to 2 months. Unfortunate, but just a nuisance. There may be obscure compensatory muscles that one could paralyze to reverse ptosis, but one miss there will cause more ptosis! Leave well enough alone.
Yes! If used properly, like anything else. The only major complications have arisen using Botox off-label for unapproved uses, especially in high doses in children for neurologic diseases. The warnings are necessary for your own decision making and to discuss with your doctor. There are side effects, but following proper cosmetic use with proper technique and dosing, these should be temporary and reversible.
You are young. Your wrinkles are still minimal and your scars, while somewhat "punched out," are not too deep. 1. CO2 Laser is still the gold standard. But for you, a little too aggressive, expensive, and not worth the risk considering newer alternatives. Most downtime. Best results. 2. Fraxel re:Pair is a CO2 based fractionated resurfacing. Usually, only one session needed. Goes deeper; pinpoint bleeding; more pain and downtime. Very good results. 3. Fraxel re:Store is an Erbium-based laser. Less pain, but three sessions needed, each a month apart. Topical anesthesia only with a cream. Quick recovery, minimal risk, mimimal down time. This is what I recommend for you. Total cost of all 3 sessions is about the same as one of either of the two above.
Yes. Anybody can do anything they can get their hands on. Then again, I don't pull teeth, and in my opinion, injecting Botox constitutes the practice of medicine! Why do that when there are many qualified physicians in appropriate subspecialties who can help you? Also, I doubt their malpractice would cover them, and if something went terribly wrong, your damages could exceed their assets.
